Gautam Gambhir scored a fluent half-century to stake claim for an opening slot and guide India to a comfortable position on Day 1 of the two-day practice game against Kwazulu Natal XI at the Crusaders ground in Durban on Friday.

Gambhir scored an impressive 79 after opener Wasim Jaffer (2) fell cheaply and Virender Sehwag (40) departed after a decent start. But the game meandered along at a nonsensical pace as the Indians finished the day on 270 for 6.

The Delhi left-hander retired after giving notice of his form and confidence. He along with skipper Rahul Dravid (39), who also retired, put up a useful stand of 126 runs for the third wicket.

Sourav Ganguly helped himself to an unbeaten 41, but he took 100 balls and over a session to do so, striking four fours and a six against part-time home bowlers.

Harbhajan Singh was keeping him company on 10 at stumps.

VVS Laxman (2) missed out on the fun as he edged S McMillan behind the stumps, and Dinesh Kaarthick (12) too fell in the slip cordon.

Veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble had some batting practice and scored 23 runs to help the visitors' tail wag a bit on the day.

Both Jaffer and Sehwag fell to catches in the slips as India's batting woes continued unabated in the series.

However, Gambhir underlined his utility as he virtually toyed with the second-rate attack of the home team.

The left-hander regularly bisected the field and made mince-meat of leg-spinner Pillay, who he clouted for most of the 40 runs the bowler conceded in his 10 overs.

Gambhir produced all shots from the book, driving, cutting and pulling local bowlers to desperation and earning more than a nod of approval from chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar. He batted for 101 balls and smashed eight fours and two sixes.

Dravid too was in complete control during his knock of 39 runs that he scored from 77 balls, which was inclusive of five fours, before allowing others to have some match practice.

Scorecard

India (Ist Innings):
Wasim Jaffer c Govind b Frylink 2
Virender Sehwag c Govind b Mhlongo 40
Gautam Ghambir retd 79
Rahul Dravid retd 39
VVS Laxman c Smith b McMillan 2
Sourav Ganguly batting 41
Irfan Pathan c Singh b Serme 15
Dinesh Kaarthick c Govind b Frylink 12
Anil Kumble c and b Pillay 23
Harbhajan Singh batting 10
Extras: (lb1, w2, nb4 ) 7
Total: (for six wkts, 77 overs) 270

Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-49, 3-173, 4-188, 5-205, 6-250

Bowling: Govender 11-5-42-0, Frylink 16-1-44-2, Mhlongo 9-3-18-1, Y Singh 12-1-49-0, Pillay 16-4-65-1, McMillan 6-3-4-1, Serame 7-1-47-1.